Door lock



July 22, 1952 DOOR LOCK 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Aug. 30, 1946 INVENTOR. 7g/g77 FaeZeZ July 22, 1952 J. H. Rol-:THEL

DOOR LOCK 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1946 Patented July 22, 1952 DOOR LOCK John H. Roethcl, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Roethei Engineering Corporation,

Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Appiication August so, 1946, serai No. 633,956

6 Claims. l

This invention relates to latch mechanism for the swinging doors of various structures. Although especially adapted to be used in connection with the doors of vehicle bodies, such as automobile bodies, the present invention may be applied to various other uses.

An object of the invention is to provide a door latch which combines in relatively simple and compact form such desirable features as quietness of operation when closing the door, simplicity and compactness in construction, operational eciency and economy in manufacture.

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention, herein illustrated, by way of example, there is provided a rotatable latch device mounted on a support for the latch mechanism, said support comprising a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a flange extending angularly from the plate portion. An outer manually operable lever is pivotally mounted on the plate portion. The latch mechanism also comprises detent means engageable with the latch device'for holding it in door latching position, the detent means also being pivotally mounted on the plate portion but being 'adapted to swing independently of said lever.

The lever is provided with an armportion at one side of the pivotal axis thereof, which arm portion is provided with a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut 'the same at the same side of the pivotal axes thereof upon swinging movement of said lever arm portion in one rotative direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device. Inner man- -ually operable means capable of moving said detent means in said one rotative or detentdisengaging direction is also provided. This inner manually operable means for disengaging the Ydetent means from the latch device includes a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on theange of the support. Pivotally movable means is provided for simultaneously blocking pivotal movement. of said outer manually operable lever and said bell crank lever, said pivotally movable means including a blocking means cooperable with a blocking portion on the lever. The pivotally movable means is moved through the medium of inner manually operable means connected thereto and operative to pivotally actuate the same to simultaneously block pivotal movement of the outer manually operable lever and the bell crankelever. y

\Other objects of this invention will appear in 2 the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig'. l is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of an automobile body provided with a swinging front door upon which a latch device made in accordance with the present invention is installed.

Fig. 2 is, an enlarged vertical sectiontaken substantially through lines 2-2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a face view illustrating in detail the rotatable bolt carrying plate and locking detent or dog therefor.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the latch device taken substantially from position 4 in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken substantially through lines 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of yother embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, a certain embodiment of the present invention as applied to a door and door frame structure of an automobile body. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the automobile body, designated generally at A, is provided with a front door B which is hinged at its front edge so as to swing against a door post or body pillar C in accordance with conventional practice. The door comprises van outer metal door panel 20 and an inner metal door panel 2l, see Fig. 2. The panel 2| terminates in a transverse jamb edge or portion 22 facing the fixed jamb face or edge 23 (Fig. 4) of the door frame post or body pillar C.

Adapted to be secured, as by means of screws, to the inner side of the jamb portion 22 of the door is a case plate 24 having a flange 25 engaging the inner door panel 2l. Mounted on the case plate 24 isa rotatable latch device which in the illustrated embodiment comprises, for example, a bolt plate or member 26 which isrotatable upon a pivot or stud 21 in the form of a acoge/l Shoulder rivet secured to the case plate. Rigidly fastened to the plate member 26 at a point spaced from the pivotal axis 21 thereof is a cylindrical latch bolt 28. This bolt projects outwardly in a longitudinal horizontal direction through an arcuate slot 29 in the case plate and also through a similaran'd registering arcuate'slot in the jamb face 22 of the door.- These slots are covered and closed by the plate 26 when the door is open, as shown in Fig. 3. A

The rotatable latch device or bolt Plate 26 is formed on its periphery below the pivotl-21 with a toothed portion forming a seriesvofuthree spaced abutments or shoulders'3, 3| and 32, all

of which preferably having the same depth and' forming inclined detent or dog engaging surfaces. Cooperable with the toothed portion 'of' the bolt plate 26 is a swinging dent or dog 33 pivotally mounted at its lower end upon the shank of a studor shoulder rivet 34 secured to the case plate .24. k,The detent 33 is-provided -with a'det'ntor y,dogging portion-33a engageable successively'with theabutments or teeth30, Stand 32 of the bolt plate. When the detent engages the abutment 30 the bolt 28 is in unlatched 'position Vat the v lower end of the slot 29, as showninFigfB. When thewdetent is in' engagementl with 'the abutment 3|,V the bolt is in the safety locking vposition'and when the detent is in engagement'with the'abutment 32 the latch bolt is in the iinallocking position, as illustrated inFig. 2. overlying the detent arm 33 and the bolt'car'rying 'plate26 isa detent actuating or lrelease lever v"."il'rlia'ving at its lower end anembossed portion35a contacting the face of the detent'arm'and pivotallymounted upon the stud or shoulder rivetv 34 'soas to -'swing freely thereon. Secured toandprojecting from the detent release Amember35` is a pin 36 uwhich is adaptedtoengage within anotch 33h in 'the outer end of the *detent 33 whereby v'upon l"swinging the lever35 inwardly tor vcounter'clocknwise from the position shown in 'Fig-2 the pin'36 will swing the ldetent'33 downwardlysoasto relea'se the toothed portionr33a'of the-detent from engagement-with vany one of theabutinents 536, 131' and 32. The'detent33-"is` yielding'fly` urgedto- "jward the-boltplate 26-byineans`of alcbiled`Y spring j 31 having 'its'.-inner'eilid anchored? at` 38'b'et'ween f sp "ced lugs struck-'outfromthefcaseplate 24'- and "f having its outer end V31a" engagingJ the F outer end of the detent.

The upperfend `of thefdetent' release lever` 35 is Yembossedv at 35h so-as to slidngly engage the 'case platev 24 and isguided thereon by means of f a tongue 39 struck out from thecasefplate'and overlying the embossed portion 35h.

The intermediate portion of thefrelease lever 4`35b`etween the embossed portions-35a and V351) thereof is spaced from the bolt vplate V26 -a sufficient distanceto provide clearanceA for -a-main" r"spring 40 which constantly urges the-,bolt vplate l"26 in a counterclockwise direction, -as4 viewed lin 'Fig.'2, toward Vbolt unlatching position. The

"spring 40 in the present instance has one;or more intermediate coils terminating-at one end in--an outward extension 40a anchored at its upper end Vto a tongue 4| struck out from the metal of the lever 35. The opposite end of the main spring has an upward curved extension 4Gb anchoredl at 40e to the plate 26-at a point above the'pivot 2l thereof. The main spring 40 is installed under v"predetermined lad'or tension' so as to exert constant rotative effort onthe bolt plate 26 and the detent release lever- 35,

this spring urging the:I lever toward the position shown in Fig. 2` and the tion,l therefore, -asingle spring meansis utilized to control the bolt plate 26 and the detent actuating lever 35, the spring providing a direct connection between these parts. The outer edge of the lever 35 is formed with a lateral flange or extension 35e engageable by a plunger 42 which -may be'shifted inwardly by means of a pivoted pull out handle 43 (Fig. l) or by any other suitable means such as a push button operable from the outside of the door.

-Operation of the detent release lever 35 may be accomplished fromthe inside of the door by means of remote control mechanism which may 'be manually operated. as by means of a doorliandle or push button device, from a pointV ati-the inside'of the door remote from the caseplate.

vThe remote control' mechanism comprises a- -bell crank or two arm lever 44 pivoted at 45 through the medium of a shoulder rivet tothe casepla'te flange 25. The bell crank 44'has a longitudinally extending arm'44a overlying vvat its'outer 'end-:a

lateral flange'35d formed lon'anextension ofthe detent-,release leverV 35,'see IFig." 2. l The /le'verfi44 also has a depending lever arni-44b'connected by a stud' 46'to the slotted rend'4! of a remote control link 48 which atv its 'oppositeend 'is 'pivoted at I48a to the lower end of 'aswnging lever 49.

The upper end of'this lever is 'pivoted at 50toa mounting plate 4l secured' to the inner' door panel 2l. The lever is secured at itspivot 50 to the shank of the inner door handley (not showmand is provided withY an upward projection 49a 4Ven- .gaged by a spring 52 leffective to return' the 'lever and the door handlefto their normal/'positions -after vthe inner door handle has`A been released. VBy turning the inner door handle to V'1" `)ck`'the lever-49 the link 48 willv bershifted A'to the left in Fig. 4, thus rocking the bell crank 44 and'depressing the lever arm 44a which by Vengagement `with the flanged end'35drof the detentfrele'ase lever 35 willswing the lever land cause the. pin

'36 thereon to swing the detent or dogf33-downwardly until the dogortooth portion 33a thereof clears andis free of any one of theabutments 3D-'32 von the vbolt plate l26.

In accordance `with Ythe present `invention vmeans is provided for blocking thefdetent release Alever 35 againstv actuation either-by the plunger 42 or the lever arm 44a and in-'any-position of the bolt plate 26. This additional locking means comprises a bellcrank Aortwo'arm blockingr lever 53 pivoted at 54 'to the'- case plate flange 25, see Fig. 4. The blocking' lever' has a depending arm 53a stamped to form'an'vintermediateV embossed portion or blockingprojection l53h which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5,-is' arranged in such manner as to be shifted into and out of blocking position-with respect to an inner "flanged edge portion'35e of the lever 35. '.The

blocking lever 53 has alongitudinally extend- *ing arm 53e pivotallyv connectedat its terminal end to a vertically extending rodorplunger'55. This rod projects through the garnish molding at the lower edge of the window opening` and carries-'at its upper endaknob lor buttonf'56 (see Fig. 1) which is accesslble-latthe'inner side .75H

of Ythe windowglass-*ofthe-Tdoor. 4fWhen? the knob or button 5t is pulled upwardly the rod 55 will swing the lever 53 about its pivot 54 thereby shifting the blocking projection 53h out of blocking relation to the flange portion35e, as shownin full lines in Figs. 4 and 5. When, however, the knob orl button 56 is pushed down to shift the rod 5 5 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4, the lever 53 will be rocked about its pivot thereby shifting the blocking projection 53h to the'dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 into blocking or abutting relation to the flange portion 35e of the lever 35. When this occurs the lever 35 will be blocked against operation either through the medium of the inner "door handle or the outer door handle or other manually operable means. Thus, the door cannot be opened through actuation of the detent release lever 35 when the blocking projection 53h is in the dotted line position of Fig. 5.

VThe inside blocking lever 53 may also be actuated, where desired, by` means of a key controlled device from the outside of the door, such device being ordinarily incorporated in one or both of the front door locks but usually omitted in connection with the rear door locks of the vehicle. Where a key controlled device is used the arm 53a of the bell crank 53 may have a depending extension 53e provided with a vertical slot 51 within which is slidable a pin 58a attached to the upper end of a crank arm 58 pivoted at its lower end to the case plate, the lever being provided with a square opening or socket to receive a key actuated shaft 59. This shaft is connected to the cylinder mechanism of any conventional lock having the usual key control. By turning the key in the lock in the outside of the door the crank arm 58 may be swung to rock the lever 53 and shift the blocking projection 53h in the same manner as is accomplished by shifting the rod 55. The locking lever 53 is yieldingly controlled by means of a snap-over coil spring 6U one end of which is connected to the case plate flange 55 and the other end to the lever arm 53o, this spring serving to yieldingly hold the lever arm in either shifted position thereof.

It will be noted that the detent or dog 33 is lfree to swing on the pivot 34 independently vof the detent release lever 35. Since the detent tion as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The door may then be closed causing the bolt to move from unlatched position shown in Fig. 3 to its final locking position shown in Fig. 2. The movement of the bolt is accomplished through engagement thereof with a suitable striker or keeper device mounted on the jamb face 22 of the body pillar. During this operation the bolt plate will be rotated'and the successive Ateeth or abutments 3i and 32 will pass over the detent projection 330 depressing the detent against the action of its spring 3l and successively moving the detent away from the pin 36. Thus, when the release lever 35 is blocked the detent 33 is permitted independent swinging motion as the bolt plate 26 is rotated from either unlockedv position or safety locking position to final locking position. With this arrangement, therefore, it is possible to close the door from the outside and. automatically lock the door without requiring the use of the key. The step Si) on the bolt plate has the additional advantage of ensuring that the bolt 28 will at all times assume a predetermined position when the door is open. Any upward shifting of thebolt when the door is open will be resisted by the spring loaded detent 33 which will at all times urge the bolt plate to full unlocked position with the detent in full engagement with the step 35.

I claim:

1. In a door latch mechanism, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a flange extending angularly from said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, a detent release lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having a blocking portion, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever, said release lever having an arm portion at one side of the pivotal axis thereof provided with a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the same at the same side ofthe pivotal axes-thereof upon swinging movement of said lever arm portion in one rotative direction thereby tor pivotally move said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said support and having a lever arm engageable with a part on said release lever for swinging the same in said one rotative direction, inner manually operable means for actuating said bell crank lever, a member. having blocking means for cooperation with said blocking portion, means movably mounting said member on said support, and inner manually operable means for moving said member todispose said blocking means in position to be en-I gaged by said blocking portion thereby to blockVv movement of the release lever in said one rota-- tive direction.

2. In a door latch mechanism, a support hav ing a plate portion for disposition at the doork jamb and having a flange extending angularly from said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, detent means: engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, a detent release lever having a blocking portion, means pivotally mounting said detent means and said detent release lever on said plate portion for swinging movement independently of each other about a common pivot axis, said release lever having an arm portion at one side of the pivotal axis thereof overlying a portion oi the detent means and provided with a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the same upon swinging movement of said lever arm portion in one rotative direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said support and having a lever arm engagea-ble with a part on said release lever for swinging the same in said one rotative direction, inner manually operable means for actuating said bell crank lever, a member having blocking means for cooperation with said .blocking portion, fmeans fmovably j mounting .said member' on said asupport, 'and inner manually .operable means for movingusai'd member to dispose said blocking means in lposition to be engagedfby said'blockingportionthereby to block-.movement of ythe release Elever in lsaid one rotative direction.

3. In ya latch mechanism for1aswinging door, a-vsupport having a plate portion fordisposition at -the door -jamb and jhaving a flange extending angularly ,from said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted onsaid platelportion ,an outer manually operable lever having a'blocking portion, .detent 1means vengageable with said latch device for'holding itin .doorlatching position, .means .pivotally .mounting 'said detent means and ,saidllever on said plate portion for swinging movement independently 'of 4each other about a common pivotv axis, said lever having an arm portion at oneside of the pivotal axis thereof overlying a Lportionof .the detent means .and provided with a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the sameupon swinging'movementof said lever'arm portionin one rotative direction 'thereby to l pivotally movesaid detent'meansin the same rotative direction 'out "of holding position with respect tosaid latch device, inner -inanually Ioperable means for pivotally moving said detent means lin said -rotative direction out of holding position with'respect-to-said latch device'and-includinga -bell crank lever pivotally 'mounted on Said flange,r -means for simultaneously fblocking pivotal Amovement of said outer `manually operable lever and said bell crank lever, said last named means including a member pivotally mounted on saidsupport for swinging movement, said member having yblocking means for cooperation -`wlth said blocking portion, and inner manually .operable means connected to said member for swinging the .sameLinto rand out of blockinglposition.

4. -fIn .a door .latch 'mechanisnn .a support having a plate V.portion for disposition at the 'door Ajarnb and lha-ving .a flange .extending angularly from said plate portion, arotatable'latch device mounted on said plate portion, detent meansengageable `with-:saidxlatch .device for holding it in door latchinglpositionpaxdetent releasezlever pivotallyrmounted on-*said plate f portion and Vhaving 'a`s.blo.ckingportion, saidndetent means being piv- 'otally mounted ,on `said plate lportion lto swing :independently of fsaid lever, rsaid release lever having an :arrnportionat one side of thepivotal `axis `thereof .provided Awith a part arranged in opposingrelation to a part of said detent means .to .abuttheisame at the same side of the .pivotal axes thereof upon swinging movement of said 'lever arm portion in one rotative direction 'thereby to Lpivotally move said detent means -in the Ysame Arotative ldirection -out -of holding position with respect lto said ylatch device, a bell crank'lever-pivotally-mounted onrsaid ilange and lhaving fa lever armengageable `with a parten fsaid :release lever ,-for :swinging `the same in .said one rotative direction, 'inner :manually operable meansfor actuating'said bell crank zlever,.a'rnem berhaving `blocking means rfor .cooperation with said .blocking portion, ymeans pivotally mounting said Amemberon said flange, and inner manually `operable .means -for swinging saidmember to dispose said blocking means in position to 'be en- 4,gaged by said blocking portion ythereby .to block swingingmovementvof the release lever in .said one rotative direction.

5.In adoorrlatch mechanisme support having afplateportion foridispositionat thedoor jamb and Vhaving a ilange extendingangularlyirom said yplate jportion, v.a rotatable 1latch device mounted `one-'said platefportion, detent-means engageable `with Vsaid latch devicelfor holdingitin door latching lposition, a y'detent release :lever having :a blocking portion, means pivotally mounting -said Vdetent means .andsaid detent-release lever r on said plateportion -forvswinging movement independently of each other about a commonjpivo-t .axis,jsaid release lever having Jan arniiportion atene' sidev ofthe pivotal axis-thereof overlying :aiportiom of lthe detent 'means .and provided :with ra part arranged in opposingfrelation to-.fapart'of'said detent'meansvto abut-the same .upon swingingfmovementof said leverarm portion in one `mota-tive direction Vthereby "to pivotallyf'move-said-detent means inthe same rotative -direction fout of holding ,position with 1respect to said latch device, abell crankLlever pivotally mounted on said .angeandlhaving allever arm Yengageable with a partl on` said release' lever forswingingfthesame in said one rotative directionfinner manually `operable means `f or actuatingsaid bellcrank leverga member -having'blocking `means for cooperation -with said blocking portion, means pivotally lmounting said 'member on .said lilange, and inner manually .operable means 'for swinging said member'todisposesaid blocking .means inposition to be engaged vby said blockingiportion'thereby to block swinging' movement of the .release lever Ain .said one rotative direction.

Y6. Inv a -latch mechanism .for a swinging door, a'support'having la ,plate portion for disposition atthe door jambiand having va ange extending -angularly from said :plate portion, ka rotatable latch fdevice .mounted on .said lplate portion, .an outer 'manually .operable lever pivotally mounted on .said Aplate portion and'having a-blocking portion, :detent Ymeans .engageable with vsaid latch ydevice for holding it in idoor` latching lposition,

said :detent imeans being pivotally vmounted 'on said plate portion to swing independentlyof: said lever, said lever having an arm :portion at vone side of-the Apivotal Vaxisthereof V.provided with a ipart'arranged in opposing relationto apart of "said detent means toabut the same at the same side of the ,pivotal axes thereof uponswinging movement of said lever'arm portion inane-rotativezdirection therebyito'pivotallymove said de- .tent means in the same rotative .direction outof v.holding .position with respect to said latch device, inner manually operable means for pivotally fmoving said Idetent-means in said rotative direction out rof holding position with respect to said .latch vdevice `and lincluding a bell crank lever lpivotally .mounted on said hange, pivotally'mov- ,able means for ysimultaneously blocking pivotal Imovementof saidouter manually operable lever .-and said .bell crank lever, said pivotally .mov- :able vmeansincluding .blocking means forcooperation with said Vblocking portion, and vinner :manually operable vmeans connected :to said pivotally 'movable :means and operative `to piv- .otally a'ctuate the l.same to v.simultaneously 'block gpivotal movement of vsaid 4outer manually Aoperable lever -and said `bell crank lever.

J OHNH. .ROETHEL (References on following page) REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Wilcox Apr` 9, 1895 Farmer Nov. 27, 1923 Watts July '7, 1925 Russ et a1. Jan. 20, 1931 Gudmundsen Oct. 15, 1935 Schontzer Sept. 28, 1937 Number N urnoer Name Date Potter Sept. 19, 1939 Browne Oct. 8, 1940 Lakn Feb. 11, 1941 Dall June 24, 1941 Rolph Jan. 20, 1942 Marple Nov. 10, 1942 Endter Nov. 7, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany July 10, 1935 

